Like father, like son: 17 year old Rick Zabel's career beginning to take off

Erik Zabel's career ended in 2008, but his son, Rick's is just getting off the ground. The 17 year old just won the junior version of the Rund um Köln - that along with a slew of solid results on the track, has gotten tongues to fluttering: can he be like his father? How far can he go?

The four-time winner of Milano-Sanremo, now 40 years old, unsurprisingly, appears to be his son's biggest fan.

"My son has talent and is clearly on the right track," says the six-time Tour de France Maillot Vert to Sporza. "I am very proud of him. He loves cycling, which is the most important thing in my eyes."

With his words of praise come the words of caution: Zabel isn't too eager to place any kind of real pressure on his son's shoulders, not even a professional career.

"We cannot get too far ahead of ourselves though - it is too early to say whether there is a professional career awaiting him."

If young Rick's work ethic and talent is anything like his father's, it seems highly unlikely that he won't be a name that we'll be talking about for many years to come.